Couch-hammock.



I. E. PALMER.

GOUOH HAMMOUK.

APPLIOATION'FILED 001*. 2, 1911.

1,016,894. Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Fig.8. I 10 Wiineses:

ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE I. E.- IEALMER (30., OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

COUCH-HAMMOCK.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISAAC E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the county of MiddleseX and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Couch-Hammocks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to couch hammocks and more particularly to that type thereof in which the hammock body is continuous from end to end and underlies the hammock frame, an important object of the invention being to maintain the correct relative position of the frame and the hammock body.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have dis closed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a couch hammock embodying my invention, parts being broken away; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the couch hammock shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail in vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing one end of the hammock; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section, parts being broken away, of a hammock embodying my invention; Fig. 5 is a plan view of one end of the hammock showing a modified form of the invention; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of a modified form of my invention; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of couch hammock embodying my invention; Fig. 8 is a similar view of a still further modified form thereof; Fig. 9 is a detail in longitudinal section upon the line 99 of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a transverse section upon the line 10-10 of Fig. 8, the parts being broken away; Fig. 11 is a plan view of one end of a couch hammock showing a still further modified 'form of my invention; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the form of corner bracket employed in that form of my invention shown in Fig. 11.

In that embodiment of my invention herein selected for illustration, the hammock is composed of a frame consisting of side or longitudinal members 1 and end or transverse members 2 connected together at their meeting ends detachably or otherwise, so as to form a rigid, substantially rectangular,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 2, 1911.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 652,304.

skeleton frame. WVithin the scope of my invention any suitable type of frame may be provided. The hammock body is composed of any suitable flexible material, such for example as canvas cloth. I have herein shown the body as provided with suspension end portions 3-3 having their upper end spreaders 4, to which the stringing means are secured, but any suitable suspension means may be provided with which the body portion 5 is continuous or connected. Preferably the hammock body is continuous from end to end, the portion 5 underlying the frame being here shown as integral with the suspension end portions 33. In other words, the hammock body has suspension means, of suitable character. If desired, the hammock body may be continuous from end to end, but may be of more or less skeleton nature. That is to say, a portion or all of the hammock body underly ing the frame and between the inner edges of the members of the frame may.be cut away or removed. The hammock frame is adapted to be positioned upon the portion 5 of the hammock body, said frame being provided with any suitable seating, such as wire links, cords, cloth or the like to support thereon a mattress.

Hammocks of this general type have been for many years upon the market, but are objectionable in that the strain of use is such as to unduly stretch the portion 5 of the hammock body between the ends of the frame; that is to say, the underlying portion 5 is so stretched as at its ends to be drawn out from under and up around the ends of the frame, and particularly at the corners of the frame. This distorts the hammock body, and particularly if the latter be provided with upstanding sides, such as indicated at 6-6 in Fig. 4. If the underlying portion 5 of the hammock body be so stretched in use as to be of greater length than the frame, the inevitable result is to distort said upstanding sides and to prevent them from occupying an upright position. In order to prevent this result, I provide the hammock body with means to prevent the underlying portion 5 thereof from being drawn out beyond and up around the frame. For that purpose, I have herein shown strips, slats or plates of wood, metal or the like preferably thin and of considerable breadth, these strips or plates being carried by the hammock body by being applied or secured to the hammock body underneath the frame so as to lie flatwise against the frame. These strips may extend both longitudinally and transversely of the hammock, but if desired, I may employ either the longitudinally extending or the transversely extending strips or plates. Preferably, however, I in either case pro vide the longitudinally extending strips whether or not the transversely extending ones be utilized.

In Figs. 2 and 4, I have shown strips or slats 77 each of a length less than one half the length of the hammock, although it is evident that the same may be of any suitable length and width. If desired,'the strip 7 at each side of the hammock may be of the full length of the frame or substantially of such length; that is to say, the sidestrip may be continuous from end to end of the frame.

Said strips may be attached to the hammock suspension ends 3 and the underlying portion 5 of the hammock body. If transverse strips or slats are provided, I may employ a single transverse strip 10 having its opposite ends abutting against the inner edges of the side strips 7 or of such length as to have its ends overlying said side strips 7-7. In Figs. 2and 3, I have shown a single trans verse strip 10 equaling in length the distance between the side strips 7-7. Said transverse strips are received within a pocket 11 open at one side 12 where the edge of the strip 10 bears against the inner face of the suspension end 3. Any other suitable means may be employed to attach the transverse strip or strips to the hammock body or to apply it thereto. The pockets 8, 11 are preferably formed by stitching strips of cloth or other suitable flexible material to the upper face of the hammock body.

If desired, I may provide a series of strips 13, as shown in Fig. 5, at one or both ends of the hammock body, each series preferably spanning the space between the side strips 77. The relatively short strips 13 may be inserted in separated pockets if desired or otherwise be individually attached to the hammock body. Obviously the several strips may be applied either to the upper face or the under face of the hammock body, but preferably they are applied to the upper face thereof, inasmuch as they are then concealed and cannot be readily displaced. Preferably each of the strips does not exceed in width the member of the frame which it underlies, though obviously the width of the strips may be varied within the scope of my invention.

By dividing the transverse strips or plates into two or more pieces, I am enabled to roll up the hammock body with the said divided strips inside into a compact bundle. If desired, the transverse as well as the longitudinal strips or bars may be inserted in closed pockets. The end strips may, if desired, be inserted in open-ended pockets and be longer than the latter, so as to rest at their ends upon the side strips or bars. It is evident from the foregoing description that no strain incident to hammock use will pull or draw the said flat strips or plates up around the corners of the frame, as the lacing of the side walls holding the end pieces at right angles to each other keeps the plates or the like from becoming displaced in any way. Therefore, in use the strain of the frame is directly downward upon the said strips.

Instead of having the hammock body wholly unitary from end to end, it may be composed of several pieces attached together or the main underlying portion 5 of the hammock body may be cut away or removed and in its place may be substituted a panel or panels of open work fabric 14 of mosquito netting or the like, as shown in Fig. 5. By employing such open work fabric, I overcome a grave objection to this type of hammock, owing to the fact that ventilation is thereby afforded to the frame and the under face of the mattress. Such panel or panels 14 may be sewed to the hammock body and preferably along lines adjacent the inner edges of the members of the frame. In other words, the portion of the hammock body directly underlying the members of the frame is of heavy material, such as canvas, so as directly to support them, the open work fabric occupying more or less of the space within the inner face of the members of the frame.

My invention may be applied to a couch hammock wherein the body is unitary from end to end, but wherein a portion thereof, such, for example, as that between the side and end members of the frame has been cut out or removed.

Within-the scope of my invention, I may employ either transversestrips, plates or the like at the ends of the frame without employing longitudinally extending strips or plates, or I may utilize the reverse construction, that is to say, I may employ longitudinally extending strips or plates but omit the transversely extending strips.

In Figs. 7 and 9 I have showir as a further form of my invention, transversely eX- t'ending strips or plates 15 the length whereof may be equal to the distance between the side members 7-7 of the frame. If desired,

however, the said strips or plates 15 may, at their ends, extend under the ends of the side members 7-7. Preferably, the inner edge of each of the strips or plates 15 is upturned as indicated at 16 so as to form a hook-like portion adapted to bear against the inner edge of the end members 1 of the frame. The said strips or plates 15 are positioned in transversely extending pockets as 17 which, as indicated at 18, extend also about the upstanding ends 16 of the plates or bars. It is unnecessary to provide means to secure the strips or bars 15 to the end members of the frame, but, if desired, I may provide screws or bolts passing through the hook-like portion 16 into the end members of the frame. Preferably, however, the said members 15 are wholly free from the frame members.

In Figs. 8 and 10 I have represented the transversely extending strips or plates 15 and also longitudinally extending plates 19, the inner edges of which may, if desired, be upturned as indicated at 20 so as to form hook-like portions as previously described with respect to the transverse plates 15. The said longitudinally extending members are inserted in pockets 21 which also inclose the upstanding portions 20 thereof. Preferably the said plates or strips 19 are unattached to the side members 7 of the frame but, if desired, I may employ screws or bolts to secure them detachably thereto.

Obviously, both the transversely and longitudinally extending strips or plates are held from displacement with respect to the frame members that they underlie, by reason of their upturned inner edges. The side strips or bars may be of the full length of the hammock frame and the transversely extending strips or bars may be of the full width of the frame. It is to be understood that said strips may be formed as thin metal plates separating but slightly the lower face of the frame members and the upper face of the hammock body.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown still another form of my invention wherein the transverse and longitudinally extending strips or bars are consolidated or united into one rigid member for each corner of the frame. As therein shown, each of said members consists of a right-angular corner bracket 22 adapted to underlie both a side member 7 and end member 1. The outer edges 23, 24: of said bracket are preferably flush with the outer edges of the end and side members 1 and 7 of the frame. Preferably the inner edge of said bracket is provided with an upstanding fiange 25 to engage the inner edges of said end and side members 1 and 7 As disclosed in the preceding views the bracket 22 may be inserted in a pocket secured to the upper face of the hammock body or it may be attached or applied thereto in any suitable manner. Each bracket 22 may be of any suitable extent, but preferably it is so proportioned as to conform in width to the width of the side and end members 1 and 7.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the couch hammock body is preferably wholly free from the frame, the plates or bars of whatever form, being merely applied or attached to the hammock body and preferably unattached to the frame.

It is evident from the foregoing description that when the hammock is subjected to the strain of use, the port-ion 5 of the hammock body cannot be strained or stretched so-as to draw its ends out beyond and up around the ends of the frame, because the longitudinal and the transverse strips have a fixed definite position with respect to the hammock body and cannot themselves be drawn out from under and up around the ends of the frame. In other words, the fiat-' wise relation of the said strips and the hammock frame is necessarily maintained in use, it being practically impossible to draw said strips out of such flatwise position.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

1. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame, a hammock body continuous with the suspension means and underlying the frame, said frame overlying the fiat portion of the hammock body between the suspension means and slat, strip or plate devices attached to the said body andengaging the frame to prevent the ends of the underlying body portion being drawn beyond the frame ends and against the end edges thereof.

2. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame, a hammock body continuous with the suspension means and underlying the frame, said frame overlying the flat portion of the hammock body between the suspension means and strip slat or plate devices carried by the said body at or adjacent to the frame ends and engaging said frame to prevent drawing of the underlying portion of the body beyond the frame ends.

3. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame, a hammock body continuous with the suspension means and underlying the frame, said frame overlying the flat portion of the hammock body between the suspension means, and slats, strips or plates secured to the upper face of the underlying portion of the body and extending both longitudinally and transversely beneath the frame.

4:. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame, a hammock body continuous With the suspension means and underlying the frame, said frame overlying the flat portion of the hammock body between the suspension means, the upper face of the underlying portion of said body having pockets and slats, strips or plates in said pockets and bearing flatwise against but unsecured to the under side of the frame.

5. A couch hammock body continuous from end to end and having suspension means, said body being provided With marginal corner slat, strip or plate-receiving pockets.

6. A couch hammock comprising in combination a frame, a hammock body continuous with the suspension means and underly- -ing the frame, said frame overlying the flat portion of the hammock body between the suspension means, and slats, strips or plates carried by the body at the corners of but 20 ISAAC E. PALMER.

Witnesses:

IRVING U. TOWNSEND, ROBERT H. KAMMLER.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

